What you've described sounds like dog-whistling by politicians. We've been through all of this before on immigration and multiculturalism. You'll just have to assimilate! ;-) But seriously, I wouldn't worry about it.

Posted by David Jennings, Friday, 29 January 2010 7:22:26 PM

A universal base income would mend MOST of welfare discrimination problems that you mention.

Posted by beefyboy, Saturday, 30 January 2010 7:21:36 AM

I see where you're coming from - anyone on welfare is treated with suspicion. They are presumed to be diddling the system until proven otherwise. It's sickening - and I mean really sickening in more ways than one, since it increases stress and paperwork and depletes whatever inner resources someone who is unwell or disabled in some way needs to draw on to cope.

At the same time we have people living very plush lives and commanding a huge volume of resources shovelling money offshore and into company and property 'tax-fails'; family trusts and the like - dodge; dodge; dodge. If they are caught it's not a biggie because they have the resources and contacts to defend themselves in court. Meanwhile the little folk get all sorts of punishments and humiliations just struggling to hang on to a measly and demeaning couple of hundred dollars.

I think we should all pay a hefty tax that is just for a social-welfare safety net - none of us know when we might need it.

All the best of luck to you; I hope you keep writing about these issues.

Posted by Pynchme, Sunday, 31 January 2010 12:29:12 AM

DeusEx, all this sounds very frustrating for you, and I can see why.However, I don't think all your anger and frustration should be leveled only at the Government or the 'system'.

The people who rip-off the system and fraudulently claim disability benefits now and in the past are more deserving of your anger.These people are the ones who have made life so difficult for the real recipients of a disability or sickness benefit.

The hundreds of forms and medical tests now required to 'prove' the ongoing disability or sickness are very daunting, but are unfortunately necessary to stop the other scum from taking a chunk of what is rightfully yours.

All countries have an obligation to care for all their citizens, especially those that are unable to adequately care for themselves.I hope your situation and spirits improve soon, and you are definitelynot an underclass.

Posted by suzeonline, Sunday, 31 January 2010 1:31:29 AM

There have always been disabled people. And, there have always been frauds and cheats since there were disabled pensions – in countries where such things are available, of course. There are no cheats in third world countries, because all disabled people have to beg to live.

While we all regret that anyone is disabled, and most of us a very glad that we are not disabled, there are so many self-interest groups with their hands out that no group is ever going to be happy with their lot. It has always been so, and it will always be so.

The best thing that people like this author can do is to be thankful that they live in Australia or some other Western country with similar benefits, because the bulk of the world’s population of disabled, mutilated and sick people get sweet fanny adams.

Disabled people probably will have to get used to less, though, if a comment from Immigration a few days ago about bringing in people with disabilities to fill skill shortages in Australia comes to fruition.

As Australia’s penchant for huge immigration, intake of refugees and sending money and industry overseas increases – as per the demands of globalisation – the size of the pot for disabled people, pensioners and anyone who is not rich will decrease.

Be happy while you can.

Posted by Leigh, Sunday, 31 January 2010 12:17:31 PM

By DeusEx Macintosh, published 29/1/2010As a disabled person living on welfare you are politically dead, silenced by the conviction that your source of income is somehow a sign of moral damage.

Dear DeusEX, Do not ever think [or view that fellow Aussies] feel that people who are disabled and living on payments, be it government received, or personally received, is a sign of moral damage.

If you love and know yourself, acknowledge how you have contributed to Australia and our people, worked in some way and paid taxes previously, why on earth would you care what peoples views are, in terms of how they look upon disabled people on centrelink.

Every Australian, at one stage in their lives, will be the recipient of assistance, whether it be from the government, family members, or friends. Human beings exhibit hypocritical behaviour at some point in their lives, therefore, disregard their critical views.

The people I have found, after working with hundreds of different people daily over 34 years, is that those who judge, criticise or ridicule other peoples' receival of monies/C.Link etc, way of life, are generally guilty themselves, on the same, or similar issue.

You deserve assistance and here is another way for you to look at this.

At the end of the day, your previous taxes paid by you, before you were disabled, are coming back to you as your own money.